It's a long road back from concussion for Winnipeg Jets prospect Ivan Telegin

Ivan Telegin, a fourth round pick (101st overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010, has been suspended by the Jets for failing to report to the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League and is believed to be seeking somewhere else to play.

It took longer than he’d expected, but he Winnipeg Jets’ prospect is feeling no lingering effects from the concussion he sustained on Jan. 13 while playing for the St. John’s IceCaps in a game against the Toronto Marlies that robbed him of half a season in the American Hockey League.

Telegin is back to full health after a long road back, but the next step in the process is returning to game action for the first time in a long time.

That opportunity should come Friday when the Jets prospects face the San Jose Sharks in Penticton, B.C. as part of the 2013 Young Stars Classic.

“Physically, I feel great,” Telegin said before departing for B.C. “It’s tough for me. For a long time I couldn’t play. I’m feeling okay on the ice but I’m not sure how long it will take me to (feel normal) in a game. It was six-and-a-half months of not practicing.”

The play that led to the concussion wasn’t really anything out of the ordinary.

With the IceCaps on the power play, Telegin was checked from behind but his symptoms only showed up a few shifts later.

“I remember everything,” said Telegin. “I felt something, but I felt normal. After the first shift of the second period, I felt some dizziness and my eyes went black. Then I said, I’m done.”

That was a wise decision, but Telegin had no idea he wouldn’t play another shift in the season.

“For a hockey player, any injury it’s tough but with a concussion, you can’t do anything,” said Telegin. “Every time you think you’re 100% and ready to go, we’d try to do something, like riding the bike, and then the concussion symptoms came back. That was a tough thing.”

Telegin, 21, is considered one of the top prospects in the Jets’ system.

“He’s an unbelievable player,” said Jets centre Mark Scheifele, who played on a line with Telegin two years ago with the Barrie Colts in the Ontario Hockey League. “A lot of skill, a good shot. He can do it all. Something that most people see, he’s the fastest guy out there.”

Telegin, a fourth round pick (101st overall) of the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, clearly has the tools to play in the NHL, but the transition to the pro game for all young players involves earning the trust of his head coach by being responsible in the defensive zone.

That’s something Telegin was working on before his injury and his play away from the puck will be monitored closely by evaluators during the coming weeks.

“First five, six games, it was a big difference from junior but I just needed time to see how players play in that league,” said Telegin, who had three goals and 10 points in 34 games with the IceCaps last season. “After that, you get better and better.”

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is happy to see Telegin back on the ice, but stressed the team will be cautious during the final phase of his recovery.

“He’s worked extremely hard with our training staff and our medical staff,” said Cheveldayoff. “It’s still a step-by-step process for anybody that has a concussion. There is no one cure-all type of thing. We’re still monitoring him on a regular basis and his participation in Penticton will be monitored as well. If you don’t see him out there in every game, it’s not because he had a set back.

“It’s just unfortunate that the injury did hit him so hard and he missed a good portion last season. But to have a guy with his skating ability and size back on the ice in the prospects stable is exciting."

It's a long road back from concussion for Winnipeg Jets prospect Ivan Telegin

It took longer than he’d expected, but he Winnipeg Jets’ prospect is feeling no lingering effects from the concussion he sustained on Jan. 13 while playing for the St. John’s IceCaps in a game against the Toronto Marlies that robbed him of half a season in the American Hockey League.

Telegin is back to full health after a long road back, but the next step in the process is returning to game action for the first time in a long time.

That opportunity should come Friday when the Jets prospects face the San Jose Sharks in Penticton, B.C. as part of the 2013 Young Stars Classic.

“Physically, I feel great,” Telegin said before departing for B.C. “It’s tough for me. For a long time I couldn’t play. I’m feeling okay on the ice but I’m not sure how long it will take me to (feel normal) in a game. It was six-and-a-half months of not practicing.”